Nightwitches – Female Russian bombers who bombed Germany during WW2. They had old noisy planes and engines that used to conk out halfway through their missions. So they had to climb out on the wings mid-flight to restart the props. To stop the Germans from hearing them starting up the anti aircraft guns, they would climb to a certain height and coast down to German positions to drop their bombs and restart their engines in midair. Their leader flew 200+ missions and was never captured.

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WWII Life Magazine Photos

Army Parade Washington DC, Memorial Day, May 1, 1942

Can you identify any of these people?

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More Life Magazine Photos

Pilot trainee in the women’s flying training detachment, during the training at Avenger Field Sweetwater, TX, july 1943.

]]>http://www.mysteryancestors.com/haight-family/american-civil-war-soldiers-page-2/feed/0Photos Lost and Found 2http://www.mysteryancestors.com/mystery-lost-and-found/mystery-of-the-lost-and-found-2/
http://www.mysteryancestors.com/mystery-lost-and-found/mystery-of-the-lost-and-found-2/#commentsTue, 14 Feb 2012 08:03:25 +0000Deannahttp://www.mysteryancestors.com/?p=1868Although these photos were found in and around Florence Oregon, most appear to have been photographed in Omaha Nebraska. All photos found in Florence will show ‘flo’ in front of the number.

This picture has no writing on the back. Anyone know who the sad young woman is?

This is the back of photo flo109. I read it as, ‘Anothers See me. Rod & Gun Club. 1912′

Who is this woman? We know the gentleman’s sir name of Withnell who it seems lives at the gun club. Interesting arrangement. Can anyone tell us about the gun club and Mr. Withnell? Maybe we can discover who the woman is.

The back reads: Among the Sunflowers. Rod & Gun Club 1912.

This photo was found in Florence Oregon

Back reads; 4th of July at Ellis’s ranch.

Back reads; ‘ 7/4 – 1919 at Ellis’s Ranch,’ In the same hand writing as photo # flo110

The divided post card came into use on March 1, 1907 per wikipedia.org.

The next group of photos all seem to be taken in front of a family home dating back over one, maybe more generations.

Pryor to the Tintype which arrived in the United States in 1856 were the Daguerroeotypes (1839) and Amprotypes (1850′s).

Daguerreotypes first began to be made in 1839. It was the first type of publicly sold photograph. Daguerreotypes are fragile and were expensive at the time, and are less accessible now. They continue to be produced for roughly fifteen years, until the ambrotype began to replace it.

A daguerreotype was a direct positive, taken from the camera and developed directly onto a silver-plated copper plate. The camera used chemical vapors to produce an image on the silver plate. This took a long time and subjects of the photo had to remain completely still for quite a long time. The final photos were extremely fragile, could be rubbed or transferred off easily as well as subject to tarnish.
As a result, daguerreotypes had to be preserved in glass. If tilted back and fourth, you will see a reflection.

Ambrotypes were introduced after the daguerrotype, in the 1850′s (officially patented in 1854, but in use before that). They became instantly popular because they were much less expensive than the daguerrotype, and didn’t require their subjects to remin motionless for as long. Ambrotypes are similar to a tintype in their use of a mounted exposure. However, as opposed to a sheet of iron subject to tarnish, ambrotypes were mounted to a piece of blackened glass. Sometimes you will see the black paint on the back dried, cracking and peeling.

After taking the photo, a photographer would immediately mount the positive on a wet piece of glass. (The moisture came from a coating made up of a chemical coating). The photo then had to be immediately developed, coated and varnished – all before the chemicals dried.

Ambrotypes were quickly overshadowed by tintypes because of the contrast in cost and processing time. However, of the three, ambrotypes are the most detailed, high quality photos. When discerning an ambrotype from a daguerreotype, note that an ambrotype will have a black background and sometimes (if the back of the glass is also painted black) can appear to have another level of dimension. Ambrotypes will be the most detailed. Daguerreotypes appear to be a more silver color, and can only be viewed at certain angles.

Help us solve the mystery of these lovely photos of beautiful people found in the trash in Saginaw, Michigan. They are now in the possession of Roy Clement Jr. His photos are marked with an ‘R’ preceding the photo number.

ca.1900.

Cabinet card ca. 1877

We are fortunate to have the woman in this pictured identified as Mrs D. W. Smith, Saginaw City, Mich.

This is an interesting card with scalloped edges. I’m thinking with the bustle style of dress, the date may be around 1900.

This highly attractive lady is Matilda Johanna Frederika. Nick name Tilly. Now take a look at the picture above and the one below. Are the same people or maybe related?

Related?

Dare I guess this darling baby is a little boy?

Lillie Arnold is written on the back of picture 135. The contributor, Roy purchased the picture from a Debra Clifford who found it in Oneida County NY. Roy says there are a lot of Arnold’s around Saginaw City, Saginaw County, Michigan.

The woman’s hair appears to be styled in the fashion of the late 1800′s.

Photo taken the summer of 1956 on the back deck of Jane and Jack Wright, Clackmas Oregon. I’m seeking my long lost friend, Patty Cook (her maiden name). She is on the left, I’m on the right. Patty is probably living in Oregon or Washington State. We are both 15 years old in this picture.

My mom is probably taking the picture. Melba is Patty’s mom. We are on Rockaway Beach in Oregon. Anyone seeing this picture who knows Patty, please forward this to her.

Seeking Julia, a childhood friend

Julia lived with her brother and parents in Rockaway Beach Oregon back in the 1940′s. She lived at the end of the road next to our summer cabin. I don’t know her last name. She survived polio so had to wear braces on her legs. She was allowed to take them off one week out of the year. So she took them off when I arrived. We spent our time in the woods hiding from her brother David and my sister. They most always found us. Each day we would walk to the highway to wave at the train conductor.

In the early 2000′s, I went to her church to see if they would look her up in their records. With so little to go on, they couldn’t identify her. She would be in her 70′s now. If you know of her, please show her this and/or leave a message below. Please Tweet Me Thank you, Deanna

c 1914 – 1915 – Probably Osgodby, Leicestershire, England at home of Mary Ann Maxey Spencer. The young man at the upper far left is Redvers Haddon spencer, b. 1900. The young man at far upper right side in the back is Cecil Victor Spencer allegedly named Hornbuckle. The rest of the children are probably cousins either by blood or by marriage. Given how young many were at that period, they could have lived into the late 1900′s. Any information concerning the identity of these children would be greatly appricated.

About 1900 – Possibly Leicestershire. Most likely Spencer family members and spouses … maybe friends. several of the family members were ‘in service’ at Belvoir Castle as daily help from the village. Some may have been live in’s.

My mother told me this building was built as a result of the big depression to give people work. It is located somewhere in or near Portland Oregon. The person with the X is James Ransom Haight, born in 1874

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Oregon Streetcars

The photo Dated July 9, 1938 taken by an unknown person and sent to Maude Haight b. 1878 NY. The log cabin built by George Crane. He was born 1811 in Canandigua, NY. I”m told it was the first school house in the area and is now a museum. I would very much like to know more about this cabin and George Crane. My mother says George is the source of the Ickabod Crane fable.

July 9, 1938 – somewhere in New York state

End view of cabin built by George Crane. The chimney used to stand against this side. Would sure like to know who took these pictures.

July 9, 1938 - Items in the museum; Shirt worn by George Crane, builder of the log cabin/school house/museum. There is also a picture of George in between two other men. Would like to know where in New York this cabin is located. I understand George was the teacher and the cabin, now museum is filled with items of the Crane family. Does anyone know who is holding the shirt? Picture was sent to Maude Haight, so could be a Haight family member.

It is possible this was the home of Charles Haight and Kathryn Layton. It may be located in Canaseragua, NY. Can anyone shed some light on this house and it’s occupants?

Does anyone know where this is? Who this is? There is nothing on the back. Photo was found in a Florence Oregon antique shop.

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The couple on the left of the picture is James Ransom Haight and Maud Haight. Does anyone have the names of the little girl and the couple on the right? What about the building. Looks too big to be a house. Since the Haights migrated to Oregon in 1900, the building is probably in Oregon.

Although the handwriting seems to be the same, the sir name looks more like Loukes rather than Lake.

This photo is another xeroxed photo given to me back in the 1990′s. Beside the picture was written,’G.W. Ferguson Springfield, Mo.’ I have never heard of a Roy Thorpe or a Thorp sir name in the Bedgood family before.

This is a xeroxed copy of a picture of Hanna Jane Gardner, b. 1838, Covington KY.

Does anyone have a better picture of her?

June 15, 1905 – Electric Park, Kansas City, MO

This is another Xeroxed copy of a photo or maybe a tintype. It was given to me by a Bedgood aunt. The children are most likely in the Bedgood family.

Could the man on the left be Bert Bedgood b. 1 Dec 1881 Kansas City, Jackson, MO?

]]>http://www.mysteryancestors.com/bedgood-family/bedgood/feed/1Military Featuring the American Civil War Soldiershttp://www.mysteryancestors.com/civil-war-soldiers/civil-war-soldiers/
http://www.mysteryancestors.com/civil-war-soldiers/civil-war-soldiers/#commentsSat, 19 Mar 2011 03:01:50 +0000Deannahttp://mysteryancestors.com/?p=601FIRST NEW YORK DRAGOONS

This photo was the property of my great grandfather, Ransom Haight before it came to me. He was in the First New York Dragoons Co. I. during the Civil War. This picture is now the first of many in the book, ‘Civil War History and Roster of the First New York Dragoons’ by Deanna Bedgood. Hopefully some or dare I say all of these soldiers will be identified.

First New York Dragoons

Do you know who these people are?

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First New York Dragoons

First New York Dragoons – 1897

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Pickett’s Charge

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2nd Rhode Island Infantry

]]>http://www.mysteryancestors.com/civil-war-soldiers/civil-war-soldiers/feed/2Haight Family Mystery Photoshttp://www.mysteryancestors.com/haight-family/haight-beema/
http://www.mysteryancestors.com/haight-family/haight-beema/#commentsSat, 19 Mar 2011 02:02:53 +0000Deannahttp://mysteryancestors.com/?p=579My name is Deanna. This is my website. I could really use some help in identifying the following pictures. They were in the home of my grand parents, James Ransom Haight b.11 May 1874 and Maude Ines Haight b. 12 June 1878.

Rockaway Beach, Oregon in 1922-1923

This photo was taken at Rockaway Beach, Oregon in 1922 – 1923. These people look totally different from the other Haights in the album. I do believe they are part of the family. Other family sir names are Beeman, Crane, Carpenter, Fowler and Snow. North Eastern American Indian is mixed in with some if not all of these people as some of them are Mayflower Descendants.

Rockaway Beach, Oregon 1922- 1923

Rockaway Beach, Oregon 1922 – 1923

Have a feeling photo 103 & 103a are siblings with possible American Indian blood. Photo 103 location is Rockaway Beach, Oregon. The Haight family summered there off and on in one to two week periods.

In the 1870′s, it was fashionable for the ladies to pull their natural hair back and secure it in a braid or hair net. To that, they would include a hair piece fashioned as a braid to the top of their head.

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The back has a 2 cent stamp postmarked with the date of 1865. Newman Photographer, Hornellsville, NY.

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Revenue stamps are a simple and easy to date and identify photographs. Every photo sold between 1864 and 1865 will have a revenue stamp on it. If it doesn’t the photo is from a different time period. Additionally, revenue stamp cancellation marks can prove to be valuable when identifying location, photographer, or possible photo groupings.

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The back of this photo shows the photographer is Betts & Prusia in Dansville, New York. The 2 cent hand cancelled stamp was in use from 1862 to 1883. He looks like a young man, maybe early 20′s?

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Revenue stamps were introduced to the American public in 1862. Approved through the Revenue Act, the tax was to be an additional source of income to fund the Civil War. Initially, revenue stamps were affixed to luxury items (telegrams, playing cards, ec.) as an additional source of revenue for the government. When purchasing goods, all consumers had to pay an additional tax on items with the stamps.

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The back is a little hard to read. The photographer is A. E. Beers in Rushville, N.Y. There is a very faint watermark on the stamp. Looks like it was done by hand. It looks like an X with an extra forward slant.

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In 1864, the Revenue Act approved the adition of photos as taxable items. All photos sold were federally mandted to have a revenue stamp attached to them. When the photographer collected the stamp, he or she was to initial and date the stamp.

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I have been surfing the net seeking information on this green George Washington US stamp to no avail. It would help in giving us a date. Can anyone provide documentation on this stamp?

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Like postage stamps, revenue stamps cane in assorted colors and values. Most common colors were red, blue, orange, and green; values of 1, 2, and 3 cents. Different denominations were required for the sale of different items. As an additional identifier, each photogrpher had their own method of cancelling the stamps. Some would initial and date (as required by law), some would cross off, and some would stamp. The photo tax was repealed in 1865.

Revenue stamps are a simple and easy way to date and identify photographs. Every photo sold bertween 1864 and 1865 will have a revenue stamp on it. If it doesn’t, the photo is from a different time perion. Additionally, revenue stamp cancellation marks can prove to be valuable when identifying location, photographer or possible photo groupings.

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Another unknown from the Haight album. It was with other pictures dated 1923. Most likely location is Oregon. Would love some information on this. Deanna

Most likely this picture was taken on the Oregon coast. Picture is from the Haight family album.

This tintype is of one of my Haight ancestors. Wish I knew which one.

Most likely this photo was taken on 42nd or 53rd Street in Portland. The cross street may be Burnside. Date would be in the early 1900′s.